This is a series of posts featuring our artists who are making things happen in and around our great borough of Queens. Please check back weekly for new posts.

Which Queens neighborhood do you live in and for how long?Astoria! The best! Same apartment for almost a decade now.

How did you get involved in theater?It’s a part of my DNA. Performing is my greatest love! Always has been. I did my first play when I was 3 or 4 at church. Oh man, those church plays were awful and spectacular. And I’ve been acting ever since. I wrote my first play in 8th grade. It was about Pluto leaving the solar system, with dance numbers. Very heavy stuff! I studied acting at UNC Chapel Hill and NYU. I have been acting in NYC for almost 10 year in theater and film. I am also a founding member of the dirty doowop band, Cudzoo & the faggettes. Creating your own work is so important for the creative soul and gives you the power to provide performance opportunities for yourself.

What do you love most about Queens?One day I was walking on my block and saw a strange furry thing in a trash can. Upon closer inspection, it was an adorable ginger baby guinea pig! The neighborhood cats were gathering with hungry eyes and I knew I had to save this sweet little creature. As I was trying to figure out the best rescue plan, some girls from the building came out and said they threw it out because they thought it was a rat. Idiots. Bitches. Seriously? Idiots! That is the most flamboyant rat in the history of rats. Cunt punt! I took the little creature home, put it in the my bathtub with some carrots and water (closed off from my curious cats), and headed across the street to gather supplies with a friend and fellow animal lover. We drove to a pet store and got a cage, bedding, food, toys, everything a guinea pig could want. We introduced her to her new home and named her Cheesedoodle. Cheesedoodle lived with me for several months. She made funny noises and loved fruits and vegetables. A friend of mine wanted a pet, but could not have a cat or dog. Cheesedoodle was the perfect solution. She had a long wonderful life in her forever home and brought happiness to my friend’s family. I am still not sure how a rogue guinea pig ended up on the mean streets of Queens, but I am glad I could be the one to save her! RIP Cheesedoodle! I love you, gurrrrrrrrrrl!

Your top Queens picks (food, entertainment, sights, etc)?I love when family and friends visit my neighborhood! There is so much to show them! I used to get into lots of booze-fueled fun trouble at The Sparrow and The Bohemian Beer Garden. The Beer Garden was more fun when they encouraged rowdiness in the garden (there was a summer they served pitchers of Long Island Iced Tea for, like, $10. Pitchers! I fell in love a lot that summer.). The atmosphere is different now, but the food is delicious, the beer is cold, and they often host fun events. I have some dear friends who even got married there. I think 5 Pointz is amazing. The Museum of Moving Image is my favorite museum in the whole city. I’ll admit it, having a Costco close by is fucking rad! I love Astoria Park and Socrates Sculpture Park. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is beautiful. You can explore the World’s Fair grounds, check out the unbelievable panorama of the city at the Queens Museum of Art, and catch a Mets game (bless their hearts) all in one day. Right now I am obsessed with the ramen at HinoMaru. Queens Comfort has the best brunch. Nook N’ Crannie is my go to shop for deals on antiques, furniture, gifts, and knickknacks, and they deliver. Spa Castle is the best daycation money can buy! And, well, my apartment! Come on over for some moonshine and crafting!

Current/Upcoming projects?

I always have something exciting going on! I like to stay busy. Check my website (erinmccarson.com) or follow me on facebook (facebook.com/erinmccarson) for the latest news. Right now I am most excited about a movie I was in, He’s Way More Famous Than You (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2076216), opening in theaters across the country May 10. It will be playing in New York at the AMC Lowes Village 7. Go see it! And there is always a Cudzoo & the faggettes show around the corner. Follow us on facebook for dates and funny status updates about dicks and glitter (https://www.facebook.com/CudzooFaggettes).